Our Stay at the “New” Royal Palms Resort

I’ve always been a huge fan of the Royal Palms Resort & Spa — from the gorgeous property to the award-winning T. Cook’s restaurant which never disappoints. It’s right down the street from our house, but once I’m there I immediately feel like I’m on vacation somewhere in the Mediterranean. The beautiful architecture and lush grounds are the perfect backdrop for a relaxing vacation or staycation. We also like to pop into the bar on the weekends for a drink and to enjoy the live music — generally a talented local singer/guitarist is playing songs we all recognize, ranging from the ’70s to now. Love! Needless to say, when the resort invited my husband and I to come stay and check out their soon-to-be unveiled multimillion dollar design refresh, we were excited.

Originally built as a winter home by a wealthy New York family, the resort has a rich history.

After checking in, we kicked off our weekend by spending the afternoon in a cabana by the beautiful, newly revamped pool. Lucky us, we had a gorgeous view of Camelback Mountain from our cabana and watched the sun starting to go down before heading up to our room to change for dinner.

While we were enjoying the pool, the staff had delivered a welcome tray of refreshments to our room, so we had a snack and drink as we changed for dinner. Our redesigned estate room was lovely and roomy, and included a sitting area, plus a large tub and separate shower in the bathroom.

With so many pretty nooks and romantic areas around the property (including a beautiful private area for weddings that seats around 150 people if you know anyone getting married!), we had fun exploring and taking photos before getting a bite to eat.

This hand-carved gate opens to reveal the private wedding area.For details on my outfit, read this post. By the way, this dress just went on SALE!

We decided to hang out in the bar for awhile before dinner, and ordered drinks and a yummy hummus-veggie spread, plus a chicken quesadilla — both were delish. I mentioned the live music already, and the singer that night happened to be a super talented lady that was a cross between Jewel and Stevie Nicks. We stayed until she was done with her set. Amazing.

The roasted garlic hummus plate at The Mix Up Bar, next to T. Cook’s.

The main courtyard is strung with pretty lights to set a romantic mood.

We had a wonderful sleep and after taking in the beauty of the grounds in the morning light, we headed over to T. Cook’s for their fabulous 7 Day Brunch. The blueberry buttermilk pancakes were AH-mazing and the egg white frittata was delicious as well. And, what’s brunch without mimosas?? Cheers!

A huge thank you to the Royal Palms for hosting us and the VIP treatment! And… good news! For my fellow Phoenicians that didn’t make plans to head out of town this Labor Day weekend (did that sneak up on you like it did me??!!), why not spend a night or two at the Royal Palms and pretend like you’re on vacation?? From now through September 30th, the resort is offering 30 percent off their already low summer rates as part of their Sneak Peek Package (code: SNEAK) to stay in one of redesigned estate rooms or suites. Room rates start at just $105 per night during the week and $147 per night over the weekend. It’s a great deal, right? Check it out here or call 602.283.1234.

Do you have a favorite staycation destination? Let me know in the comment section below.